Container



April 18, 1944. i LARSON 2,346,847 CONTAINER Filed May 13, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l a! A Um sgjl-Q v 1 v 2/ 2/ I 6 IE 20 .28 25 wa 4 W 4 l v I l MWHHHM I 3 f INVENT OR.

April 18, 1944. I J LARSON 2,346,847

. CONTAINER Filed May 1:, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 18, 1944. F. J. LARSON CONTAINER Fiied May 15, 1941 4 Shets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 18, 1944 CONTAINER:

Frederick J. Larson, St. Louis, Mo assignor to R. C. Gan Company, St. Louis, M0,}, 3. corporation of Missouri-- ApplicatiomMay 13, 1941, Serial No. 393,279-

11 Claims.

This invention, re1ates,.generally, to containers, and, more particmlarly to containers having valved openings in the topwall structure thereof; through whichthecontents of; the container canv be withdrawn and discharged.

An objector the invention is: to. provide a; container for powdered, or granular materials em.- bodyinga simple and comparatively inexpensive top. head valve structurethrough the medium ofiwhichthe contentsof thecontainer can bedischarged by; sifting, pouring, or by the withdrawal of difierent measured" quantities of the material fromgthe container by the use of 'aspoonpressed against a selected edge of avalveopening;

Another object of: the invention resides in a. top head valve structure of a character particularly adapted for condiment containers, which are substantially rectangular, in cross-section, andhaving a'dimension inzone direction less than that ofi the ordinary teaspoon.

- Aifurther. obiect'of'the invention is to provide. a. tophead valve structure for containerawhich will; notpresent. production, or manufacturing:

difiiculties; dueto: drawing. operations ona relatively small-area, yet providing: means for entirely sealing. the container. to prevent" leakage of thecontents thereof, accidental longitudinal displacement of slidable valve member; and thelaterally guiding; of the member'in sliding move mentsthereof.

A further obj ect:-of the invention resides in a top head valvestructure; including-a sliding-valve member which isfiexedupwardly a-t-both end-por tions thereof ata suitable angle'to: the remainingintermediatefiat horizontal section thereof when the memberis in its; fully closed-position, and

which is flexed at one end onlywhen'in-sifting, or pouring positions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent as-it, is better. un-

derstood from the following. specification. read head as drawn before the slidevalvewaysare.

formed, and before the marginal portions are crimpedto .the end of a container body.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of thev slide valve or closuremember.

Fig. 4=isan enlarged sectional elevation taken:

on-line 4 4"of Fig. 1.-

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevationtaken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig; Sis an-enlargedsectional view taken on-line E-Jii 0f. Fig'. 3.

. Fig.7 is a top-plan viewof; a: further modified containenshowing the slide'valve-in closed position andprovided with modified sifter openings.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view thereof, showing theslide member.- moved to a sifter position.-

Fig..9 is a top plan; View thereof; showing the slideva-lvemoved to a pouringposition.

Fig. 10,1is a top plan view thereof with the slide valve completely; removed.

Fig: 11 is a top plan view-of: adurther' modified:

container showing the slide, valve in closed position. 7

Fig. l2ris'a topplan View thereofishowing the slide valve -moved-,to-sifter position;

Fig. 13is;a'top planview thereof-with theslide valve moved: to a pouring position.

Fig. 14* iszaztopplanview thereof:with-theisiide Fig. 17 isan enlarged-,sectionalzview of! the itop: endof they container; taken on line l'l-lrl of;

Fig. 10.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a still-further modification: of: thewtop head, exclusive:ofthe-slide-valve.

Several embodiments of the invention 3518K- emplifi'ed in, thedrawings are possible, thereforg. it-is; torbe understoodthat- I do not intend', ,or"

WiShrtO be limited'by theyparticular'fornrdiseclosed inany group illustrated; but aim to cover' all modifications;- and; alternate constructions .of

containertopheads: and slide valves therefor fairly falling; within/the scope of the-invention= expressed: in the appended; claims.

In the several'lforniszoffthelinventiondisclosed, thererisincludedra container havinga tubular body of substantially; rectangular 'form, in crosssection, a sheetmetal bottom head; a sheetwrnetal apertured top head, a slideivalveor-slidableplo-- sure; guide+ways-ior the closure; and moreparticularly; the1-slide=valve controlsa relatively; large:

elongated, spoon openinggin thetop head. aswell aswsifter' openings; which,- inone-rins-tance, are formed Ail-1 the: slideeva-lve, and-.inother instances in the top-headland :the zsl-ide :valve.

However, the .dominatingtfeatureof .the; lumen-- tion resides in providing a counter-sunk top head, having a spoon opening and an embossed or raised rib surrounding the opening, with fiat horizontal side wall seats running parallel lengthwise with the opening on opposite sides thereof, and in providing fiat inclined end wall seats which merge at the lower corner portions thereof into the horizontal side wall seats adjacent the open ends of guide-ways for a slide valve so as to flex on an inclined plane opposite ends of the slide valve at the junctures of the horizontal side wall seats with the inclined end wall seats.

Referring to the drawings I disclose a container which includes a tubular fibrous, or paper body A of rectangular cross-section, having a sheet metal imperforate bottom head B and a sheet metal sifter and open top head provided with a slide valve, or closure member D. The bottom and top heads are united to the body A in any suitable manner, as by seams well known to the container art.

The top head C is formed with a countersunk horizontal wall or panel section I, which at its outer edges, merges into surrounding vertical side wall sections 2 and similar end wall sections 3 merged together by curved corners 4. The wall sections 2 and 3 are disposed within the top end of the tubular body A and engage against and extend above the walls of the body A. The upper edges of the wall sections 2 and 3 merge into outer marginal portions 3' preferably bent, or crimped over the top edge of the body A into tight engagement with the outside of the body A. This produces a top seam which unites the top head C with the top of the body A and provides a top rim 5 for the container.

The top head C is also provided with an embossed, or raised rib designated, generally, as 6 and of rectangular form which, preferably, conforms with the shape of the top head C. The rib 6 is drawn to provide inclined outer side walls I and similar end walls 8 joined by rounded corners 9.

At their bases, the inclined outer walls I and 8 of the rib 6 merge into the countersunk horizontal wall section I. I

As shown in Fig. 5, the rib 6, as initially formed, is also drawn to provide vertical inner side walls. It, the upper edges of which walls merge with the upper edges of the inclined outer walls 1,

and at their bases the vertical inner Walls I0 merge into narrow fiat horizontal side wall seats II disposed in a plane with the countersunk horizontal section I. The horizontal wall seats I I are disposed on opposite sides of a punched out opening I2 of rectangular shape as shown in Fig. l, which conforms substantially with the shape of the top head 0 and of a length to accommodate the width of an ordinary teaspoon. Also the rib 6 is drawn to provide opposed flat inclined end wall seats I3, the upper edges of which mergewith the upper edges of the inclined outer end walls 8, and the corner portions of the lower edges of the flat inclined end wall seats I3 merge into the ends of the opposed flat horizontal side wall seats II, while the free lower edges of the fiat inclined end wall seats II define the end edges'of the opening I2.

Guideways I4 are provided on opposite sides of the opening I2 above like outer edge portions of the upper faces of the fiat horizontal wall seats II by downwardly and inwardly deforming the inclined outer walls 'l and the inner vertical side walls I0 of the-rib 6 to form horizontal beads t5 after the slide valve D has been positioned over the opening I2 and the seats II and I3 and forced into contact with the horizontal and inclined wall seats II and I3, respectively, through the bead forming operation. The slide valve D thus mounted on the top head C is then slidable or shiftable longitudinally, in either direction, as desired, between the guideways I 4.

Through efficient utilization of the area of the flat horizontal wall seats II and the fiat inclined end wall seats I3, as above described, it is possible to make the opening I2 quite large with respect to the size of the container, especially for the insertion of the spoon through the opening I2.

The present embodiment of the invention contemplates utilization of the opening I2 to facilitate withdrawal of different measured quantities of material from the container through the use of an ordinary teaspoon F and to this end, the Opening I2, as shown in Fig. 1, has both of its long edges I6 formed straight so that the con.- tents withdrawn on a spoon E shown in Fig. 1, can be leveled off on a selected straight edge, if so desired. Thus, as shown in the drawings, the opening I2 is of such size both in length and in width as to permit the passage of the bowl of an ordinary teaspoon so that the bowl may be withdrawn from the container with its side edges in contact with either opening edge I6 selected to level off the contents on the spoon, or due to the fact that the width of the opening is greater than the depth of the spoon bowl, the outer curved face of the spoon bowl can contact one edge of the opening so that a heaping spoonful of contents can be withdrawn from the container.

To maintain the spoon opening I2 at the maximum, in a minimum size top head C, and thus adapt the top head C for use on minimum size condiment container bodies A that are substantially rectangular in cross-section, and at the same time provide a slide valve, or closure member D therefor which will normally lie below and within the bounds of the top rim 5 of the top head C, as well as one that can be easily and quickly moved to cover and uncover the spoon opening I2, and, at the same time be retained in its closed position against accidental displacement from any cause, I have especially designed the slide valve seats II and I3 on the apertured top head C to afford maximum areas therefor to prevent leakage of the container contents when the slide valve, or closure member D is in its closed position, and to provide substantial bearing surfaces for the slide valve to slide upon, and to this end, I have provided the opposed flat horizontal wall seats I I and fiat inclined end wall seats I3 to occupy positions surrounding the spoon opening I2 for the accommodation of the slide valve, or closure member D, the material of which is more or less flexibly resilient in order that the end portions thereof beyond the ends of the spoon opening I2 when the slide valve is in closed position, will be flexed upwardly on an inclined plane while the intermediate portion of the slide valve fully closes the opening I2 and lies in a substantially flat horizontal position relative to the inclined end portions thereof.

The slide valve, or closure member D, as shown in Fig. '7, is provided with a plurality of sifter openings I I which are so positioned relative to both ends of the member D that they will be closed by lying over the flat inclined end wall seats I3 when the slide member Dis in its fully smash shown in one instance in Fig. 9, causes the spoon I opening I 2 to be partially uncoverednear one end thereof to provide a pouring opening .I8 through'which contents of the container can be poured.

In order to afford means to prevent accidental shifting movement of the slide member D, when in closed position, I provide the free inner edge portion of each flat inclined wall seat I3 with a channeled seat I9 drawing the material into channel formation between opposite corners of the spoon opening I2 to receive outer transverse ribs 20 formed on the slide member D. And, in order to prevent accidental shifting movement of the slide member D when moved to either sifter position, I provide the slide valve D with inner transverse ribs 2I spaced from ribs 20, one of which will be seated in one of the channel seats I9, thus providing a stop for either sifter position of the slide valve D.

The channeled seats I9 at the inner edges of the inclined end wall seats I3 and their respective cooperating slide valve ribs 20 serve also to form a seal between the slide valve D and the fiat inclined end wall seats I3 to guard against leakage of contents from the container, especially during transportation thereof, and effectively seals the container when the slide valve D is in its closed position, as shown in Figs. and 16.

It will be further apparent from Figs. 4, l5 and 16, that the elongated flat horizontal wall seats II are disposed in a substantial plane with the top head wall section I, and by reference to Figs. 15 and 16, when the slide valve D'is in its closed position on the horizontal wall seats II, and inclined end wall seats I3, that the intermediate major portion of the slide valve D is disposed in a flat horizontal position between the inclined end wall seats I3 and does'not drop below the lower plane of the flat horizontal wall seats II, or the horizontal top head wall I, which is an important feature of the invention, to avoid complicated deep drawing operations, lends to the appearance of the top end of the package, and effects a slide valve in which accidental longitudinaldisplacement thereof is minimized, due to the end portions of the slide valve D assuming. positions in inclined planes relative to the fiat horizontal position of the relatively long intermediate portions of. the slide valve which lies on the flat horizontal wall seats I3 when the valve member is in its closed positions, as illustrated in Fig. 15 due to the fact that the inclined end portions of. the slide valve set up resistance. to accidental sliding movement, further aided by the. channeled seats I9 and slide valve ribs cooperating therewith, which channeled seats I9 and ribs 2E! serve to seal the ends of the spoon opening against leakage of container contents, particularly if the container is upsidedown, or lying on either si'de during transportation thereof. I

" In the modification shown in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, the spoon opening I2 is somewhat different in shape than the spoon opening l-2 in Fig. 14, in that it has but one straight edge I6, while the opposite edge of the opening is curved, as at I6. This particular opening is designed to accommodate a regular measuring spoon F of the teaspoon capacity; which is wider across the edges of the bowl than a regular teaspoon, thus the opening will also accommodate a regular teaspoon. To this end, I provide-a opposite corners of the spoon opening I2 in the top head C with a recess 22, communicating with the opening I2. One end of the arc shapeedge of each recess 22 merges with the ends of the straight edge It and the other end of each recess merges into a curved edge 23. This edge, in turn, merges into a straight edge 24 at the inner edge of the channel seats I9, which merges into a curved edge 25, which, in turn, merges into a straight edge 26 at the medial line of the head C, which merges with the ends of the curved edge a e. The slide valve having the sifter openings I1 is also employed with this type of head C. However, in this instance, three or half of the sifter openings I'I register with the spoon opening I2 when the slide valve D is moved into sifter position, as shown in Fig. 8, and the other half or three sifter openings register with a like number of sifter openings H in the flat horizontal wall seat II, which openings are clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In Fig.9, the slide valve is shown as moved into pouring position to provide the pouring opening I8. In this modification, the sifter openings IT can be formed in one end only of the slide valve D, instead of both ends thereof, if so desired. v

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, the spoon opening I2 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 only having corner recesses 22, and instead of the sifter openings being formed in the slide valve D, the openings are'formed in the flat inclined end wall seats II and are designated II, and there are no openings formed in theslide valve D, as shown in Fig. 3, which shows the slide valve as it appears in top plan view without openings. It is, of course, understood that sifter openings can be formed in both fiat inclined end wall seats II, if so desired.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 18, as far as thehorizontal wall seats and the end wall seats are concerned, is the same as in the top head shown in Figs.' 3, l5 and 16, except that the inclined end wall seats designated I3 are suitably curved relative to the flat horizontal wall seats I I instead of being flat inclined Wall seats, as illustrated in above mentioned figures of the drawings.

It will be apparent'that in the several styles of top heads C shown, that fiat horizontal wall seats are provided on opposite sides of the spoon opening I2, which are in a plane with the countersunk head wall I, regardless of the shape and. size of the opening, that the fiat inclined end wall seats are the same, that the guideways are the same, and, also the slide valve D is the same in every-particular except for the number and location of the sifteropeningstherein, with the one exception where there are no sifter openings formed in the slide valve D, as shown in Figs. '3'and 11.

It is to be remembered thatthe aperturedtop head member vC and the slide valvetherefor, zis sodeSigned as to beiadapted 'fornse ini'connec-v tion with the smallest size of condiment, or like container bodies, as well as the larger sizes, and particularly rectangular container bodies which will not accommodate a spoon opening, transversely or diagonally thereof, and which will permit of the use of a slide valve or closure member which can be completely removed and replaced from either end thereof, and which will lie below the rim 5 of the top head 0 when fully; closed, and wherein any portion thereof will not lie below the lower plane of the flat horizontal wall seat H or II and Il and the countersunk head wall I.

1 In each instance, however, the slide valve D isprovided with a-suitably-shaped embossed or raised button like portion 21 to facilitate sliding movement of the slide valve and the slide valve can also-be provided with direction arrows 28, if so desired, to indicate the direction, or direc tions in which the slide should be moved to sifter position. e

The many advantages of the herein described invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art of container manufacture.

What I claim is:

1. A top head for tubular fibrous container bodies, said head comprising a thin sheet metal member having an elongated spoon opening, flat horizontal wall seats on opposite sides of said opening, flat inclined end wall seats into the inner corner portions of which the ends of the horizontal wall seats merge, straight horizontal guideways on opposite: sides of the spoon opening, said guideways having open ends terminating adjacent the ends of the horizontal wall seats short of their juncture with the fiat inclined end wall seats, a flexibly resilient thin sheet metal slide valve having sifter openings adjacent one end thereof and having the major or length of its side edge portions receivable in the guideways and its opposite end portions flexed by the flat-inclined end wall seats, said sifter openings being rendered inoperative by the adjacent flat inclined end wall seat, channeled seats at the inner edge portion of the flat inclined end wall seats, and depressed ribs on the slide valve receivable in said channeled seats when the slide valve is in closed position.

2. A top head and slide valve as defined in claim 1, including a second set of depressed ribs on the slide valve one of whichis receivable in one of the channeled seats when the slide valve is moved to a sifter position.

3. A top head for tubular fibrous container bodies comprising a sheet metal member having an elongated opening, a raised hollow rectangularly shaped rib on said member, a countersunk wall section surrounding the base of the rib, countersunk side wall seats on opposite sides of the opening, guideways formed on opposite sides of the opening adjacent the outer side edges of the side wall seats, inclined end seats formed by theinner walls of the raised hollow rib, channeled seats formed at the inner edges of the inclined end wall seats, a slide valvehaving the side edge portions thereof horizontally slidable and receivable in the guideways, and a pair of spaced parallel depressed ribs on the slide valve seatable in said channeled seats when the slide valve is moved to a closed position.

4. A container comprising a tubular body portion, an end head member having an elongated opening secured thereto, an upstanding rectangularly shaped hollow, rib spaced from and surrounding the opening, horizontal wall seats adjacent the bases of the long sides of the rib. inclined end wall seats forming the walls of the short ends of the rib, the long sides of the rib having vertical inner walls provided with inwardly projecting portions forming with the horizontal seats horizontal grooves with opposed open sides and ends above the outer side edges of the horizontal wall seats, and a closure member having sifter openings adjacent either end thereof slidably receivable along its side edges in said grooves. 1

5. A container as defined in claim 4, wherein channeled seats are formed at the inner edges of the inclined end wall seats, and depressed spaced parallel arranged ribs formed on the closure member to be seated in said channeled seats when the closure member is in a closed position.

. 6. A top closure for containers including anend head and a slide valve having sifter openings, said head having a countersunk panel provided with an elongated opening, said slide valve controlling said elongated opening, a raised rectangularly shaped rib integral with the panel surrounding the opening and providing horizontal valve seats between two side edges of the opening and opposed inner face portions of the rib, upper portions of the opposed portions of the ribbeing depressed to provide guide ways to receive side edge portions of the slide member, and end wall portions of the raised rib being inclined to correspondingly deflect adjacent portions of the slide valve when in closed position and during movement longitudinally thereof in either direction,

7. A top end closure for tubular fibrous container bodies, said end closure comprising a thin sheet metal member having an elongated spoon opening, flat horizontal wall seats on opposite sides of said opening, fiat inclined end wall seats into the inner corner portions of which the ends of the horizontal wall seats merge, ahorizontal guideway on opposite sides of the spoon opening, said guideways having openends terminating adjacent the ends of the horizontal wall seats short of their juncture with the flat inclined end wall seats, and a flexibly resilient thin sheet metal valve having sifter openings near the end thereof and having the major part of the length of the side edge portions thereof receivable in the opposed horizontal guideways with the opposite end portions thereof flexed by the flat inclined end wall seats when the valve is in its normally closed position.

8. A top closure construction for container bodies comprising a countersunk end head having a spoon receiving opening therein secured to the container body, said head including -horizon-' tal valve seats bounding the long sides of the opening; cooperating inclined end wall valve seats merging with the ends of the horizontal seats and bounding the ends of the opening, horizontal guideways adjacent the outer edges of the horizontal valve seats, and a flexibly resilient valve memberslidably mounted on the horizontal and inclined valve seats.

9; A top closure as defined in claim 8, including a, channel at the lower edge of each inclined end wall valve seat, and a pair of spaced transverse ribs on the valve member engageable in said channels when the valve member is in closed position. l

10. A top closure as defined in claim 8, including a channel at the lower edge of each inclined end wall valve seat, a pair of spaced transverse ribs on the valve member engageable in said channels when the valve member is in closed position, and a second pair of spaced transverse ribs on the valve member engageable in an adjacent inclined end wall valve seat channel when the valve member has been moved from its closed position to a sifter position.

11. A top closure construction for fibrous container bodies comprising an end head member having countersunk horizontal seats disposed on opposed sides of an elongated spoon receiving opening, cooperating inclined end wall seats, cooperating guideways adjacent the fiat horizontal seats, and a slide valve mounted on the seats and having sifter openings adjacent an end edge thereof rendered inoperative by an adjacent in clined end wall seat.

FREDERICK J. LARSON. 

